In Kherson, the Security Service of Ukraine has detained a deep undercover agent of russia’s federal security service. He turned out to be a native of the South Caucasus recruited by the enemy. The man had been living in Ukraine since the 1990s on a forged passport and, as a cover, headed a local civil society organisation.

According to SSU cyber units, the foreign national adjusted the occupiers’ strike on Defence Forces’ bases and combat positions in the Kherson region.

The suspect was spotted by the russian intelligence during the temporary occupation of the regional capital. There, he met an FSB officer whose father was acquainted with the perpetrator.

After the city was liberated, the russian service put the agent on standby and left him in the de-occupied territory.

Subsequently, a temporary FSB operational group from the left bank of the Kherson region re-established contact with him and instructed him to track the locations of the Defence Forces, which the enemy was preparing to shell.

To this end, the spy covertly elicited information from acquaintances and then conducted further reconnaissance near potential ‘targets’.

In texting with his FSB handler, the agent repeatedly expressed his expectations of the full occupation of Kherson and the return of the kremlin regime to the city.

The Security Service documented the crime and detained the suspect at his home. Forged documents and mobile phones containing evidence of his work for the FSB were seized during the search.

SSU investigators notified the detainee of suspicion under Article 114-2.3 of the CCU (unauthorised dissemination of information on movement or location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under martial law).

The suspect is in custody without bail and faces up to 12 years in prison.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.